Rosenberg, Rebecca HainesLynne Johnson2016-03-042016-03-042005http://hdl.handle.net/11603/2396From Gail Husch, on behalf of faculty nominator Lynne Johnson: In her paper on homoerotic themes in Italian Renaissance art, Rebecca beautifully connects specific examples of drawing and sculpture to the broader historical context of the time. She provides a succinct overview of Florentine attitudes towards male homosexuality, and offers intriguing interpretations of works by Donatello and Michelangelo in light of those social perspectives and in relation to the artists’ own lives. Her analysis of the visual and expressive qualities of individual art works is particularly eloquent.I began this paper as a look at homoeroticism in depictions of David and Ganymede in Renaissance Florence. It seemed like mostly an aesthetic question: how do these works establish their subjects as sensual and sexual creatures, and how does that reflect on their artists? As I began my research however, I was intrigued by social aspects of homosexuality in Renaissance Florence, particularly the adoption of Greek paederastia (the love of an older man for a youth). I began to see David and Ganymede as representing two sides of the beloved youth, as my title states, the youth who overcomes his lover with his beauty and the youth who is overcome by the power of an older man. Someday I hope to return to this subject and delve more deeply into the social issues involved.16 p.en-USCollection may be protected under Title 17 of the U.S. Copyright Law. To obtain information or permission to publish or reproduce, please contact the Goucher Special Collections & Archives at 410-337-6347 or email archives@goucher.edu.Research -- Periodicals.Humanities -- Research -- Periodicals.Social sciences -- Research -- Periodicals.Text